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Midland Railex

andyram

Entry posted by andyram

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This is another show I have been looking forward to. I visited the first Midland Railex show last year and thoroughly enjoyed it with the chance to ride on the full sized trains as well as seeing the model ones aswell.

 

This year the model railway show did not disappoint. There were lots of excellent layouts, many seen in the modelling press in recent months. Derek Gelsthorpe's "Idle Way" is a superb shunting layout in such a small space. I had seen this featured in its original form in the book "Layouts in Small Spaces" which I purchased at the beginning of the year. Set on a 4ft x 1ft baseboard it helped inspire my own similar sized layout which remains under construction at present.

The expanded version of this layout was seen in a recent issue of Hornby magazine and it was nice to see it in the flesh and to chat to its owner.

 

Another excellent layout was the Cambrian Coast inspired Rhyd-y-Clafdy. This was also featured in a recent issue of the Hornby magazine and is truely superb. A lovely, spacious layout with rolling fields and authentic trains. I could have watched it for hours.

 

The show also featured a few layouts I had seen before. This included the exceptional O gauge "Hospital Gates". I always see something new amongst the detailed scenery. Another superb O gauge model was "St Marnock Shed" which featured smoke and sound fitted models. The Jubilee model was particularly impressive.

In 00 gauge there was "Skip Hill". A model based on the Cromford and High Peak Line. I had to admire the skill of the operators as they worked the mineral wagons up and down the severe gradients. The scenery included a wonderfully detailed wharf and a moving water crane arm.

 

There really was plenty to see spread across several buildings around the Swanick Junction site. It was great to meet people from this very website, including Andy. There was also plenty of trade stands, selling a range of goods. Sadly the scenic elements I had been looking for, including some Gaugemaster hedging was not available and the Bachmann "returns" stand was looking rather bare. I guess the latter had rather been picked over on the Saturday. I did manage to pick up a nice weathered loco from "Grimy Times". The Fairburn tank will provide perfect branch line motive power for Skaleby West when it attends its first show at the end of the year.

 

The show was excellent and I really did enjoy it. My only critcism would be directed at the Midland Railway Centre itself. I do feel that they were not as well organised as they could have been on some occasions. The first train was advertised as being 9.30, but it did not arrive into Butterley platform until about 9.55am. This proceeded to travel onto the causeway towards Hammersmith first, before returning to Butterley for a second stop prior to travelling to Swanick. I guess this may have been to "kill time" prior to the show's 10am start time and avoid the events of last year when the first train arrived at Swanick at 9.35 and deposited visitors well before show exhibitors had even finished setting up! Fair enough if this was the reason, but why advertise the first train at 9.30???

The second criticism I have of them was with the advertised "Real Ale Bar". This was not very well signposted, not easy to find and featured only ONE cask real ale!

 

The show also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the class 47 diesel. Now, as anyone who has read my "summer of steam" blog will know, I am not a diesel fan. For those that are however, the railway did put on a display of a number of class 47's. There were several full sized versions on display, and three in service on one of the trains. There was a large display of 00 gauge model 47's and the Swanick Junction model railway also featured such locos operating.

Sadly, as a steam fan, the only loco in operation on the service trains was the Caprotti 5 number 73129 which was top and tailing with a class 20. Oh dear!

 

Whilst I did not get any steam mileage in. I did enjoy the show, and apart from a couple of criticism I really could not fault the day. I hope that this event runs again next year and would recommend it to anyone.

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This proceeded to travel onto the causeway towards Hammersmith first, before returning to Butterley for a second stop prior to travelling to Swanick

 

this is normal operating practice at the MRB

 

I have to agree with you about the "Duff" quality of traction yesterday but I guess we just both like kettles :lol:

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Andy Y
only ONE cask real ale!

 

Sorry; it seems as though we cleared them out of the bottled on Saturday. Oops. ;)

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andyram

this is normal operating practice at the MRB

 

I have to agree with you about the "Duff" quality of traction yesterday but I guess we just both like kettles :lol:

When I've visited previously the return trains usually travel over the causeway and the class 20 was already stabled at Hammmersmith with a train before the class 47's took the first departure. The air was blue............with smoke lol!

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andyram

I think a 50 / 50 steam and diesel split would be a good idea for future events as that would please everyone especially if you follow the plan of one set steam and one diesel. Good luck for next year's event I will definitely be there.

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